P.E.I. judge orders three dogs euthanized after attacks

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Three large dogs were ordered to be euthanized after attacking a woman and causing concern for other residents, says the executive director of the P.E.I. Humane Society.

Marla Somersall told The Guardian on Wednesday residents in Johnstons River complained over the past few months about three great Pyrenees straying from their property on their own and showing signs of aggression towards people.

“We were aware that there were concerns with the dogs,’’ says Somersall.

On Tuesday, a judge ordered the three dogs be put down as a result of their attacks on a Johnstons River woman.

The woman, according to a media report, described two occasions where she was attacked and bitten by the dogs in February and in July. Both attacks happened in her yard.

The owners argued the dogs are not aggressive.

The judge believed the dogs had seriously injured the woman and ordered the couple to surrender the animals by Friday.

Somersall said the dogs had not been surrendered as of late Wednesday afternoon.

“The dogs (will when surrendered) remain in our care until we have legal authority to carry out what the courts have ordered and in this case that would be euthanasia,’’ she said.